Steadier for elongated workpieces and mandrel bars



H. c. lNsLEE 2,386,864

vS'l'ELDIlIR OR ELONGATED WORKPECES AND MANDREL BARS Oct. 16, 1945.

4 Sheets-Sheet'l 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1944 In; ATTORNEY.

Oct. 16, 1945.' H. c. lNsLEE 25386864 A STEADIER FOR ELONGATEDWORKPIECES AND MANDREL BARS Filed Jan. 28, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m willii oct. 16, 1945. K

H. c. Y:Nsmsrs 2,386,864

srmnmg Foa ELONGATED woRKPIEcEs AND MANDREL uns Filed Jan. 28, 1944 4sheets-sheet 3 illllllllun I muli i u l I I--1 IIH y IN VEN TOR.

Oct. 16, 1945. H. c. lNsLEE vv2,386,864

STEADIER FOR ELONGATED WORKPIEGES AND MANDREL BARS .Filed Jan. 28, 19444 Sheets-Sheet 4 Au #TMR/ver Patented Oct. 16, 1945 STEADIER FonELONGATED vvo'nnrmelesl AND MANDREL BARS Heber C Inslee, East Orange, N.I., assigner, by mesneI assignments, to Rockrite Processes, Inc.,Stamford, Conn., a corporation. of Delaware Application January 28,1944, Serial No. 520,022

II Claims.

This invention relates to retractable steadiers for elongated workpiecesand mandrel bars. The invention has been made especially with the ideaof providing tube and mandrel bar steadying and supporting means for astep-by-stepl tubeI reducing mil-l ofthe pilger type in which the tubesare reciprocated by a reciprocating mem-ber which grips the rear end' ofthe tube and is given a slow forward' movement to feed the tube to thedies and is returned to starting position for the positioning of a newtube, and in whichthe mandrel is carried by a lon-g mandrel bar which isreciprocated but not fed forward; but steadiers according to theinvention are adaptable for and may be used in other tube reducing millsand in mills for reducing solid bars or rods where it is required thatthe steadiers for the bar or rod be moved into and' out of operativeposition.

The present inventionis based on the invention described and claimed inmy application Serial No. 501,104, iiled September 3, 1943, now PatentNumber 2,374,939, granted May `1, 1945, and certain features ofinvention of the stea'dier construction and controlling means shownherein are claimed broadly in said application. Said application shows aduplex tube reducing mill in which the tubes are reciprocated by memberswhich grip the rear ends of the tubes and which are mounted andreciprocated in a longitudinally movable tube unit housing which isgiven a slow forward movement to feed the tubes to the reducing rollsand is returned to starting position with a quick backward movement forvthe positioning of new tubes, and in which the mandrels are carried bylong mandrel bars which are reciprocated but are not fed forward, andshows tube steadiers and mandrel bar steadiers which are moved into andout of operative position and are operated to close about the tube ormandrel bar after being moved into operative position and to open beforebeing withdrawn from operative position, and means whereby, as the tubeunit housing is fed forward, the tube steadiers, in order to avoidinterference with the forwardly moving housing, are withdrawn afterbeing iirst opened, and whereby the mandrel bar steaclers are moved intooperative position and then closed about the mandrel bars during theforward movement of the tube unit housing and are opened and withdrawnduring the quick backward movement of .the housing in time to avoidinterference with the housing, and whereby the tube steadiers may bepositioned and closed after the new tubes have been placed in position.

In the apparatus shown in said application,

the carriers furthe tube and mandrel' bar steadiers` are mounted abovethe pass linescf the: tubes and mandrel bars and are operated .tumover-the steadiers downward .to their operative positions and towithdraw' them by moving themfupward. The steadiers of the rpresentinvention have been designed especially fora single tube reducing millof the. kind referred to, and for greater convenience in introducingrand positioning the new tubes in the mill, the carriers tor the.steadiers are arranged to movefhnrizontally from one side of the mill;and the invention includes improved operating mechanism for .thesteadiers, andoperating and' control means for advancing and retra'ctingthe carriers and for closing and opening'the steadiers, each steadier'unit having an air' cylinder, or other' suitable motor means, for movingthe carrier and an air cylinder, or other suitable motor means, forclosing and opening the steadier, and control means whereby, when thecarrier, advanced by its air cylindenhas moved the steadier to operativeposition, yair is admitted to the steadier air cylinder to cause thesteadier to be closed, and whereby, when .the steadier been opened byits air cylinder, .ai-r is admitted to the carrier air cylinder to'causethe carrier to be retracted to withdraw the stead'- ier. The newsteadier mechanism and operating and control means, although designedespecially for horizontally moving carriers,` are not tobe limitedthereto. Y v

A full understanding of the invention canbest be given by a detaileddescription of an embodiment of the various features of the invention inthe form now considered best as applied to a reducing mill of the kindreferred' to, and such a description will now be given inconnectionwi-lth the accompanying drawings, in which: 'l

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a tube reducing mill embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the mill Fig. 3 is aplanview on a largerscale of one of the steadier units;

4 is a side View on the same scale of one of the steadier units;

Fig. 5 is a view on a still larger scale of the inner end of one of thesteaders looking from the lett of Figs. 3 and 4;

Fig, 6 is a View on the same. scale as Fig. 5 of the outer end of one ofthe steadier units looking from the right of Figs. 3 and 4;

o Fig. '7 is a View partly in section of one of the double solenoidoperated air valve devices; Vand Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic viewillustrating means for controlling the operation of the air cylinders ofthe steadicr units.

The tube reducing mill shown by Figs. 1 and 2 of -the drawings is thesingle mill of my application Serial No. 510,879, filed November 19,1943. It is similar in its operating parts other than its tube andmandrel bar steadiers and its reciprocating driving mechanism to theduplex tube reducing mill 'of lmy application Serial No. 442,769, filedMay 13,1942. Figs. 1 and 2 are the same as Figs. 1 and .2 of my saidapplication Se,- rial No. 510,879. mechanism partly shown on asmallscale in said figures is fully illustrated and described and claimed insaid application Serial No. 510,879.

The reciprocating driving Referring to the drawings,r and first to Figs.lV l and 2, the mill shown comprises a roll stand I0, a mandrelreciprocating and turning unit I I, a tube reciprocating, turning `andfeedingrunit I2, tube feeding mechanism I3, tube and mandrelreciprocating driving mechanism I4, and an exit tube reciprocating andturning unit I5.

The roll stand comprises a pair of overhung gapped working or die rollsfast on the ends of shafts journaled inv chocks in a massive frame orhousing 22. A pair of overhung stressebalancing rolls 24 (one of whichshows in Fig. 1) of the same diameter as the die rolls are fast on theroll shafts at the opposite side of the housing from the die rolls, andthere is an overhung backing roll 26 for each of the die rolls and foreach of the stress-balancing rolls. At the entrance side of the housingthere is a clamping device 21 which 'is open during operation of themill and is closed to clamp the rear end of a partially reduced tubewhen the mill is stopped.

The operating parts of the mandrel reciprocating and turning unit IIVare mounted in a stationary housing 30 seated on the rear end of alongitudinally extending base BI. These operating parts are driven by atransverse driving shaft 32 which is oscillated by the reciprocatingmechanism I4. A' lever arm 33 fast onshaft 32 reciprocates the mandrelbar 40, which has at its forward end a tapered mandrel. The mandrel barextends through and is detachably secured by means of a'clamp 4I toalongitudinally reciprocable and axially rotatable sleeve 42 the forwardend of which is rotatably connected to a sliding member 43 whichisreciprocated by the arm 33 through a link 44.-

A longitudinal rock shaft which extends forward from one side of the`mandrelunit housing 30 is oscillatedA by theA drive shaft 32 throughabevel segment gear 5,2 on the drive shaft meshing with'a bevel pinion53 on shaft 50.

The tube reciprocating, turning and feeding unit I2 comprisesja housing60 mounted to slide on the base 3I between theposition shown by fulllines in Figs. 1 and 2; and that indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2.4The rear'endof the tube T is detachably secured by a clamp 6I to theforward end of a longitudinally reciprocable and axially rotatablesleeve 62 through-which the mandrel' bar extends The Vrearward end ofsleeve 62 is connected to a sliding'member 63 which is connected by alink 64 to a lever arm 65 extending from a pivotally mounted hub 66.This hub carries also a jbevel gear segment 61 which meshes with abevelpinion 6B carried by a sleeve whichv is slidable on the shaft '50 and issplined thereto so as to be turned therewith, and which is also mountedin a bearing 69 on the housing GIIby which it is held against movementlongitudinally with respect to the housing. By oscillation of the shaft50, therefore, the arm is oscillated and the sleeve 62 and the tubesecured thereto are reciprocated. The lever arm 65 of the tube unit andthe lever arm 33 of the mandrel unit have the same angular motion andare of the same effective radial length and are driven in unison, sothat the tube and mandrel are given equal and synchronousreciprocations,

During each non-working forward stroke of the tube and mandrel, the tubeunit housing 60 is given a short forward feeding movement by which thetube is given an increment of feed with relation to the mandrel. 'I'hisstep-by-step forward feeding of the tube unit is effected by a pinion'I0 driven, through a one-way clutch of the tube feeding mechanism I3,from a shaft 1I, the pinion meshing with a rack 12 extending backwardfrom the tube unit housing through a guide opening in the stationaryhousing 30 of the mandrel unit. The pinion and rack serve also forgiving a quick .backward movement to the tube unit when, after beingdisconnected from a nearly completed tube', it is to be moved back forthe positioning of a new tube, the pinion being then disconnected fromthe one-way feeding clutch and being driven by a. motor 15 which isunder push button control. The shaft 'II is oscillated by the driveshaft 32 through a bevel segment gear I3 on the drive shaft which mesheswith a bevel pinion 14 on shaft 12.

As the reduced portion of the tube advances beyond the die rolls it isengaged by a friction clamp of the exit tube reciprocating and turningunit I5. This friction clamp permits slippage under the increment offeed of the new tube during each non-Working stroke and slippage duringthe working stroke due to the elongation of the tube. The exit tube unitI5 comprises a stationary housing 8| in which is mounted alongitudinally reciprocable andraxially rotatable sleeve 32 whichcarries the friction clamp 80 and which is reciprocated in unison withthe sleeve 62 of the main tube unit by means of an oscillating lever arm83 connected by a link 84 to a sliding member 85 connected to thesleeve. 'I'he hub of the lever arm 83 carries abevel gear segment 8Swhich meshes-with a bevel pinion 81 fast on a shaft 88 which isconnected with and oscillated by the rock shaft 50. Lever arm 83 has thesame angular. movement and is of the same effective radial length as thelever arms B5 and 33 and is driven in unison therewith.

In the operation of the mill, after each working stroke ofthe tube andmandrel, during which .a length of the tube is pressed between workingportions of the grooves of the die rolls, the tube is released by thedie rolls and the tube and mandrel then make a forward return strokeduring which they are given a partial turn and the tubev unit housing 60is moved forward to give an increment of feed to the tube. When thehousing 60 has been advanced to its extreme forward position, as shownin Fig. `1 and by full lines in Fig. 2, the mill is stopped and theunreduced rear end of the tube is clamped by the clamp 21. The sleeve 62of the tube unit is then disconnected from the tube and the mandrel bar,is disconnected from the sleeve 42, and the housing G0 is moved backwardto its extreme retracted position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,and the mandrel bar is drawn back, by suitable means not shown, untilthe forward end of the mandrel isback of the tube clamp of the retractedtube unit. A new tube may be brought into position in the mill and itsrear end secured by the clamp 6 I, and ywhen the mandrel bar has beenreturned to operative position and connected to sleeve 42 the mill mayagam be startedA in operation.

The mill as so far described is more fully shown and described in mysaid application Serial No. 442,769, with this principal difference,however, that the mill of said application is a duplex mill whichoperates on two tubes vat the same time, having die rolls on each'sideof the roll. stand housing instead of die rolls on one side andstress-balancing rolls on the other side as herein shown, and having twolongitudinal rock shafts like the shaft 50, one on each side of the base3|, and tube and mandrel gripping and operating parts on each side ofthe mandrel unit and tube unit housings.

The mill as shown has one tube steadier device, or unit, and one mandrelbar steadier unit. This has so far been found suicient, but theinvention is not to be limited to the provision of only one tubesteadier unit and one mandrel bar steadier unit. Each steadier unitcomprises a -bed frame |0| which is secured to and extends outwardhorizontally from the base 3| on the side away from the mandrel and tubereciprocating members, and the steadier units are positionecl lengthwiseof the mill so that the tube may be steadied and supported at a pointabout midway between the roll stand and the forward end of the tube unithousing when the housing is in its rearmost position, but preferablysomewhat nearer to the roll stand, and that the mandrel bar may besteadied and supported at a point about midway between the forward endof the mandrel unit housing and the rear end of the tube unit housingwhen the latter is in its for-7 wardmost position.

The tube steadier unit and the mandrel bar steadier unit may be, andmost desirably are, of the same construction, except that the tube andmandrel bar engaging members, the steadiers proper, H0, are of differentsize to suit the size of the tube and mandrel bar, respectively. Figs.3, 4, 5 and 6 illustrate a mandrel bar steadier unit of preferredconstruction for a mill such as shown by Figs. l and 2. v

This steadier unit has an elongated carrier I II mounted to slide onhorizontal slidewaysHZ on the bed frame I 3| and on the top of thelongitudinal members H3 of the mill base 3| to move its steadier HIJinto operative position and to withdraw it out of the path of movementof the tube unit housing 68. The carrier is given its forward orpositioning movement and its withdrawing movement by a double acting`air cylinder H5 mounted in horizontal position on the frame |0I. Asshown, the outer or rear end portion of the carrier is formed tostraddle the air cylinder, and the end of the piston rod H6 of the aircylinder is secured to a cross piece H'I extending between the sidewalls of the carrier. Forward movement of the carrier is limited by amovement limiting bar I8 extending through an opening in a stop plate H9on the carrier and anchored at its outer or rear end to a bracketextending upward from the outer end of frame IUI. An adjustable stoppiece |2I on the front end of bar H8 engages plate H9 to limit anddetermine the forward movement of the Vcarrier. At the end of its-backward movement the carrier is stopped by engagement of its stopplate H9 with a buffer block |22 of rubber or other suitable material onthe bracket |210.

The side walls of the carrier extend forward from the cross piece H'Iand have at their front ends upwardly extending portions |23 which areconnected by a cross piece |24.

The steadier IH!- is formed by two jaws |25- and |26 which are pivotallymounted on a pivot pin |21 carried by and extending between the upperends of the side wall extensions |23'. Extending from the hub of jaw |25is a short arm |28 which is connected by an adjustable link |29 to thefree end of a lever |3 the other end of which is fast on a shaft |3|mounted to rock in bearing bosses on the side walls of the carrier; anda short arm |32 extending from the hub of the jaw |25 is also connectedby an adjustable link |33 to the free end of lever |39. The two linksare connected to the lever IBD at opposite sides thereof by means ofpivot pin |34 extending through the lever end.

By upward movement of lever |36, the two jaws of the steadier are turnedon their pivot upward and toward each other to close about the mandrelbar, as shown by full lines in Figs. 3 and 4, and by downward movementof the lever the steadier is opened, the jaws being turned outward tothe position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4. After the steadier and itsoperating parts have been moved inward by the carrier to the positionshown in Figs. 3 and 4, lever |30 is moved downward to close thesteadier, and before the steadier and its operating parts are withdrawnby outward backward movement of the carrier, the lever is moved upwardto open the steadier, all parts of the steadier jaws when in openposition being below the mandrel bar.

Lever |36 is swung between its two positions shown by full lines and bydotted lines in Fig. 4 to close and open the steadier by a double actingair cylinder |40. which is pivotally mounted at its rear end on a pin|4| carried by a bracket |42 projecting upward from the carrier. Thepiston rod |43 of the air cylinder is connected to the knuckle joint ofa toggle |44 one link of which is connected to lever |35, the other linkbeing connected to a block |45 which seats on a shoulfder 46 extendingfrom the cross piece |24 and which is pressed toward its seat by a heavycushion spring |41. Forward movement of piston rod |43 straightens thetoggle to force the lever downward until, before the toggle is fullystraightened, the steadier is fully closed and the lever has come torest in engagement with a stop |53. The block i425 is then liftedslightly against the pressure of spring E47 as the piston rod continuesits forward movement until stopped by engagement with the cross piecei24 after the toggle has been fully straightened and its knuckle thenmoved to a past-dead-center holding position as shown in. Fig. 4. Bybackward movement oi the piston rod, |43, the toggle is broken and itsknuckle moved backward to raise the lever' to its upper position,thereby opening the steadier.

For holding the lever |39 in position after it has been raised by thebackward movement of piston rod |43 and the air has been cut oil fromcylinder |46', counterweights I are provided, one on each side of thecarrier HI, carried by lever arms I5I fast on the ends of shaft |3I.

A downwardly projecting lug 55 on the lever [3Q near its forward endserves to prevent backward movement of the carrier by engagement withone of the longitudinal members H3 of the mill base when the lever |35)vis in its down ctosed-` steadier position. The carrier is thus locked inits forward position when the steadier is closed on the mandrel bar,being held against forward movement by the bar I I8V and againstbackward movement by the lug |55. Y

The air supply to air cylinder I I 5 through tubes |60 and I6I connectedto the ends of the cylinder is controlled by a, double two-positionsolenoid operated valve device I'|0 (see Fig. 7) by which when one ofits solenoids is energized the tube |60 of air cylinder H5 is connectedwith the air supply (not shown) and the tube I6I is connected with theexhaust, to cause the carrier to be moved forward, and by which when itsother solenoid is energized the tube I6I is connected with the airsupply and tube I 68 is connected with the exhaust to cause the carrierto bewithdrawn, or by other suitable valve means. The air supply to aircylinder |40 through tubes |62 and |63 is similarly controlled by adouble two-position solenoid operated valve device I1 I. The valvedevices |10 and I'II are alike and are described in detail hereinafter.l

The control valves of the two air cylinders of the tube steadier unitare operated to cause the carrier to move its steadier into operativeposition after a new tube has been positioned in the mill and to closethe steadier about the tube, and to open the steadier and move thecarrier to withdraw the steadier during forward movement of the tubeunit housing in time to `avoid the steadier being struck by the housing;and the control valves of the two air cylinders of the mandrel barsteadier unit are operated to cause the carrier to move its steadierinto operative position and to close the steadier about the mandrel barduring the forward movement of the tube unit housing when the housinghas moved beyond them, and to open the steadier and move the carrier towithdraw the steadier during the backward movement of the tube unithousing in time to avoid the steadier being struck by the housing.

Most desirably, the cycle of operations of the control valves of themandrel bar steadier unit for positioning and closing its steadier, andthe cycle of operations of the control valves of the mandrel barsteadier unit for opening and withdrawing its steadier, and the cycle ofoperations of the control valves of the tube steadier unit for openingand withdrawing its steadier, are initiated by means controlled bymovement of the tube unit housing. 'I'he starting of the cycle of valveoperations of the tube steadier unit for positioning and closing itssteadier after a new tube has been positioned in the mill is mostdesirably under push-button or other manual control. When the cycle ofoperations of the control valves of any of the steadier units has beenstarted, the cycle is completed automatically by means responsive tomovement of the piston rods of the air cylinders or of parts moved bythe piston rods.

The double two-position solenoid-operated valve devices |10, I 1I, ofwhich there are four, one for each of the air cylinders of each of thesteadier units, and which are designated respectively by the referencenumerals I10a, I'I Ia, I`I0b, and IIIb in the diagrams of Fig. 8, are ofknown commercial form as shown more or less conventionally by Fig. 7,where one of these devices is shown for controlling the air supply toone of the air cylinders H5. lThe device shown has two slide valves |80and I8I, moved by pivoted levers |82 and |83 connected to solenoids |84and |85 by which the levers are moved downward against the pressure ofsprings |86 and |81, which, when the solenoids are de-energized, swingthe levers upward and hold them in their raised position. Pressure airis supplied, from a source not shown.

through a tube |90 to pressure chamber I 9| from which a port |92 leadsto the connecting port of valve and a port |93 leads to the connectingport of valve I8I The valves are mounted in an exhaust chamber |94 fromwhich there is an exhaust outlet |95 and ports |96 and I9'I to which thetubes |60 and ISI are connected. When the solenoid |84 is energized,valve |80 is moved down to the position shown in Fig. 7, therebyshutting 01T port |96 from the exhaust chamber and connecting it throughthe valve port with port |92, thus connecting tube |60 with the airsupply. Air will then be supplied to theair cylinder to move its pistonrod outward. When solenoid |84 is deenergized, spring |88 swings lever|82 upward to move valve |80 up to the position corresponding to that ofvalve I8I in Fig. '7, thereby cutting off the air from tube |60 andopening port |96 to the exhaust chamber |94, whereby the air pressure inthe air cylinder is relieved. Similarly, when solenoid |85 is energized,valve I8I is moved down to connect the ports |93 and |91 for supplyingair through tube |6I to the air cylinder to move its piston rod inward;and when solenoid |85 is deenergized, valve IBI is moved up to theposition shown in Fig. 7 to cut off the air from tube I6I and connectsaid tube with the exhaust.

The operation of the tube and mandrel bar steadier units of the tubereducing mill illustrated during one forward and return movement of thetube unit housing will now be described in connection with theillustrative diagram, Fig. 8, in which A represents the mill with itstube unit housing 6l!) in its fully retracted position adjacent to thehousing 30 of the mandrel unit, the die rolls 20 and thevtube steadierunit I00a and the mandrel bar steadier unit |801) being indicated; Brepresents the air cylinders II5a and I40a and the air supply andexhaust connections and, control valves I'Illa and IIIa of the tubesteadier unit; and C represents the air cylinders II5b and |4013 and theair supply and exhaust connections and control valves I10b and I'lIb ofthe mandrel steadier unit. ln this illustrative diagram the electricalwiring is intentionally left out. The required wiring connectionsbetween the various switches and the solenoid .valves can be readilysupplied by any qualified electrical engineer, and to make a completewiring diagram would require the showing of a great amount of wiringmaking a very complicated diagram, and the specification would beneedlessly lengthened without more clearly disclosing the invention.

A new tube having been positioned in the mill and its rear end securedto the tube reciprocating sleeve of the tube unit, before the mill isstarted in operation the solenoid valve I'Ia of the tube steadier unitis operated by push-button d to cause air cylinder II5a to move thecarrier and tube steadier forward. At the end of the forward stroke ofthe piston rod of cylinder II5a, limit switch e operates solenoid valveI'IIla to cut off the air from cylinder I |5a, and operates solenoidvalve Illa to cause air cylinder I410a to move its piston rod forwardand thereby close the tube steadier about the tube. At the end of theforward stroke of the piston rod of cylinder Mila, limit switch foperates valve Illa to cut 01T the air from cylinder Ida. The mill beingthen set in operation, the tube unit housing starts on its forwardfeeding movement toward the die rolls.

Before the tube unit housing reaches the tube steadier unit IOlla, atripper g on the housing trips switch h, thereby operating solenoidvalve Illa to causel air cylinder I40a to retract its piston rod andthereby open the tube steadier. At the end of the' inward stroke of thepiston rodlof cylinder Mila, limit switch z' operates valve I'Ha to cutoff the air from cylinder |40a andV operates valve Hlla to cause aircylinder Ila, to retract its piston rod and thereby withdraw the carrierand tube steadier. At, the endjof the inward stroke of the piston rod ofcylinder H5@ limit switch i operates valve l'la to cutjoi] the air fromcylinder |I5a, Limit switch h when tripped by forward movement of thetube unit housing also operates solenoid valve llb of `the mandrel barsteadier 'unit to cause air .cylinder H51;r to move the carrier andvmandrel bar steadier forward. At the end oft theV forward stroke of thepistonvro'd of cylinder l|5b,rlimit switch It operates valve I ib-to cutoff the air from cylinder H5?) and operates solenoid valve I'llb tocause air cylinder [4Gb to lmove its piston rod forward and" therebylclose the mandrel bar steadier about the mandrel bar. At the end of theforward stroke'of piston rod of cylinder llb, limit switch Z operatesvalve I'Hb to out on the air from cylinder |402). e

Before the tube unit housing reaches the mandrel rod steadier` unit onits return movement,j

a tripper m on the housing trips switch n which operates valve I'Hb tocause air cylinder Idb to retract its piston rod and thereby open themandrel bar steadier. Tripper m and switch n are offset laterally fromtripper g and h. At

the end ofthe inward stroke of thepiston rod ward movement to theposition shown in A."

What is claimed is: t I l. A steadier unit, comprising a carrier,` a`

steadier carried by said carrier and adapted to" ee closed and opened,motor means" for' mov-v ing the carrier `inward to movethe steadierinto4 operative position' andnfor' moving the carrier outward towithdraw the steadier, motor means onthe carrier for closing and openingthe steadier, controlling means for causing the carrier motor means tomove the carrier inward, automatically` operated controlling means forcausing the st'eadier motormeans to close the `steadier when it has beenpositioned, controlling means for causing the steadiery motor means toopen the steadier, and automatically operated controlling means forcausingv the carrier motor means to move the carrier outward to withdrawthe steadier when it has been opened;

2. A steadier unit, comprising l a"carrier, a steadier carried by saidcarrier and adapted to be closed and opened, motor means for moving thercarrier inward tov move the steadier into operative position andformoving theca'rrierv outward to withdraw the steadier, motor means on thecarrier for closing and openingthe steadier, controlling means forcausing lthe carrier motor means to move the carrier inward,automatically operated controllingmeans for causing the steadier motormeans to close the steadier when it hasA4 been positioned, controllingmeans for causing the' steadier Emotor meansto open the steadier,automatically operated. controlling means for causing the carrier motormeans to move thecarrier outward tov Withdraw the Isteadier when yithas' beenopened; and means loclring the carrier against movement whenthe steadier isi closed. Y

l S ,steadier unit, comprisinga carrier, a steadier carried by saidcarrier and adapted to beclosed and opened, motor means for moving thecarrier inward to Amovethe steadier into operative position and formovingfthegca'rlfier outward to withdraw the steadier, motor means onthe carrier fonclosing and opening the steadier"` controlling means thecausing the' carrier' motor means to movethe carrier inward', meanscontrolled by v,moveiri'ent of a part moved by the' carrier'mo'tor meansfor causingthesteadier motor means to close the steadier when it hasvbeen; positioned, controllingmeans forv causing the steadier motor meansto, open' the'steadier., and means :controlled by movement' of appart'vmoved by thesteadiervmotor means for causing the carrier motor meanstoemove the carrier outward to `withdraw the steadier when it has beenfnperflecl-r l Y n 4! 'A steadier unit,'cor'i'iprisingV abed having a.

slideway, a carrier mounted onsaid' slidew'ay, ai

steadier carried by. said carrierand adaptedto be closedand opened,anjair cylinder Afo'rrrritwingthe carrier inward to movejthstea'dieiinto" operative position and for movingtliecarier 011tward to withdrawthe steadieryfan ai'r cylinderori the carrier for closing andopeningthe' steadie'nf means for' causing air to b'e supplied to the car,- rierair cylinderet'o move the carrier inward, means controlled by movementof `a part movedbythe.

carrier airjcylinder for causing air kto be supplied to the steadier aircylinder to close the steadier when it has been positioned, means forcausing airtovbe suppliedto the steadier air. cylinder to o pen thesteadier,- and means controlled bymovement of a part moved by thesteadier air cylinf.v`

der for causing airV to be supplied' tothe' carrier air cylinder.tofmove the c'arrier outward to Withdra-w the steadier when' ithas beenopened. 5. A'steadier unit;` comprising a steadier movable into andoutjof operativeposition and adapt'- edwo belclosedadopened, motor meansfor movf ing the' steadier into' operative position and for withdrawingit,A motor means for closingv and opening the steadiencontrollingmeansfor' causin'gthe first saidmotor means to mov'elthe steadl ier'uint'ooperativel position', means controlled by movement ofa' part moved bythe first saidl m0- 6. A steadieiiv una', :enfiprisingy a carrier, ya",

steadier ,Carriedbr the carrier formedy o f ,two jaw members movabletoward and from each other, motor means for moving the `carrier inn wardtomove the steadier into operative position' and for' movin'gthe carrieroutward'to withdraw the steadier, motor vmeans for .closing andr openingthe steadier jawy membersv mounted o'nxth/e ing outward movement of thecarrier when the steadier is closed. v'

, '7. In a reducing mill having a pair of reducing members'and a feedingmember for engaging the rear end of an elongated workpiece, and meansfor moving said feeding member forward to feed the workpiece to thereducing members and for withdrawing the feeding member for the placingof a new workpiece: a workpiece steadier movable into and out ofoperative position 'and adapted to be closed and opened, motor means formoving the steadier into operative position and for withdrawing it outof the path of movement of -said feeding member, and motor means forclosing and openingV the steadier, means controlled by movement of thefeeding member during its forward movement for causing the second saidmotor means `to open the steadier, and means controlled by movement of apart moved by the second said motor means for causing Vthe first saidmotor means to withdraw the steadier when it has been opened.

8. In a reducing mill having a pair of reducingmembers, and a feedingmember for engaging therear end of Van elongated workpiece, and meansfor moving saidfeeding member forward to feed the workpiece to thereducing members and for withdrawing the feeding member for the placingof 'a new workpiece: a slideway extending laterally from one side of themill, a carrier on said slideway, a workpiece steadier carried by jsaidcarrier adapted to be closed and opened, motor.`means for moving thecarrier inward to move the steadier into operative position beneath theworkpiece and for moving the carrier outward to withdraw the steadier,motor -means on the'carrier for closing and opening the steadier,controlling means for causing the carrier motor means to move thecarrier inward to position the steadier, means controlled byv movementof a part moved by the carrier motor means for causing the steadiermotor means to close the steadier when it has been positioned, meanscontrolled by movement of said feeding member for causing the .steadiermotor means to open the steadier during the forward movement of thefeeding member,".and means .controlled by movement of a partjmoved' bythe steadier motor means for causing the'carrier motor means to move thecarrier outward to withdraw the steadier when it has been'opened.

' 9,;1In`a reducing mill having a pair of reducing members, and afeeding member for engaging the rear end of anelongated workpiece, andmeans for moving said feeding member forward to feed the workpiece tothereducing members and for withdrawing the feeding member for the placingof" a'new workpiece: a workpiece steadier movable into'and out ofoperative position and adapted to be closed and opened, motor means formoving the-,steadier into operative position and for withdrawing it outof the path of movement of said feeding member, motor means for closingand opening the steadier, controlling means for causing (the first saidmotor means to move the steadier into position, means controlled bymovement of Va part moved by the rst said motor means for causing thesecond said motor means to close the steadier when it has beenpositioned, means controlled by movement of said feeding member forcausing the second said motor means to open the steadier during theforward movementV of the feeding member, and means controlled bymovement of a-part moved by the second said motor means to cause thefirst said moaeee tor means to withdraw the steadier when it has beenopened.

'10; In a` tube reducing mill having a pair of reducing dies, and amandrel carried by a mandrel bar, and a tube feeding member for engagingthe rear end of the tube, and means for moving the tube feeding memberforward to feed the tube to the reducing dies and for withdrawing saidmember for the placing of a new tube: a mandrel bar steadier movableinto and out of operative position and adapted to be closed and opened,motor means for moving the steadier into operative position and forwilthdrawing it out of the path of the tube feeding member, motor meansfor closing and opening the steadier, means controlled by movement ofthe tube feeding member during its forward movement for causing thefirst said motor means to move the steadier into position, meanscontrolled by movement of a part moved by the first said motor means forcausing the second said motor means to close the steadier when it hasbeen positioned, means controlled by movement of the tube feeding memberduring its backward movement for causing the second said motor means toopen the steadier, and means controlled by movement of a part moved bythe second said motor means for' Acausing the first said motor means towithdraw the steadier when it has been opened.

11`. In atube reducing mill having a pair of reducing dies, and amandrel carried by a mandrel bar, and a tube feeding member for engagingthe rear end of the tube, and means for moving vthe tube feeding memberforward to feed the tube to the reducing dies and for withdrawing saidmember for the placing of a new tube: a tube steadier unit and a mandrelbar steadier unit, each comprising a carrier and a steadier carried bythe carrier adapted to be closed and opened and'motor means for movingthe carrier inward to'move the steadier into operative position andV for'moving the carrier outward to withdraw the steadier and motor means onthe carrier for closing and opening the steadier; controlling means forthe tube steadier unit comprising means for causing the carrier motormeans to move its carrier inward to position the steadier, meanscontrolled by movement of a part moved by the carrier motor means forcausing the steadier motor means to close the steadier when it has beenpositioned, means controlled by movement of said tube feeding memberduring its forward movement for causing the steadier motor means to openthe steadier, means controlled by movement of a part moved by thesteadier motor means for causing carrier motor means to move the carrieroutward to withdraw the steadier when it has been opened; andcontrolling means for the mandrel bar steadier unit comprising meanscontrolled by movement of said tube feeding member during its forwardmovement for causing the carrier motor means to move its carrier inwardto position the steadier, means controlled by movement of a. part movedby the carrier motor means for causing the steadier motor means to closethe steadier when it has been positioned, means controlled by movementof the tube feeding member during its backward movement for causing thesteadier motor means to open the steadier, and means controlled bymovement fof a part moved by the steadier motor means for-causing thecarrier motor means to movel the carrier outward to withdraw thesteadier'when it has been opened.

I v HEBER C. INSLEE.

